MIAMI -- Apparently, it was quite the scene inside the Portland locker room Tuesday night after a suddenly healthy and fortified group of Trail Blazers turned in the performance of their season during a 105-96 victory over the Miami Heat.

"You should have seen this locker room after the game," said 15-year veteran Marcus Camby. "Guys were cheering and jumping around like we won the NCAA championship. That's a great feeling to be around."

That's because the Blazers now feature one of the more balanced, deep and versatile rosters in the NBA thanks to the return of Brandon Roy and Camby, who were injured for extended periods, and the addition through trade of Gerald Wallace.

Wallace, in particular, was remarkable Tuesday, showing the strength, athleticism and effort that has defined his 10-year career. He had 22 points, nine rebounds, two steals and one block and spent the majority of the fourth quarter guarding James, who was held to four points in the quarter.

"The one thing people said about Gerald when he came here was that he competes and leaves it all on the floor," coach Nate McMillan said. "Tonight, he had some big blocks, big rebounds and big buckets. He played big and strong for us."

Added Roy, who had 14 points while continuing to show shades of his old All-Star self:

"It seemed like Gerald was always doing something at the rim to help us keep the lead. It was fun having Gerald Wallace on our team tonight, and not having to play against him," Roy said.

The Blazers, Camby says, have found their "groove" at the precise time that could have spelled the team's demise. Within the past two weeks, the Blazers have incorporated three high-profile players to a rotation that was already clicking.

But taking a cue from McMillan, the players say they are doing their best to buy into the team concept rather than worry about individual agendas such as playing time and statistics. Camby says it appears that it can work, as evidenced by the attitude and performance of the team Tuesday.

"There wasn't one guy who had his head down, even the guys who aren't even playing," Camby said. "We are all up and cheering and getting guys involved. Stuff like that goes a long way, I'll tell you."

It was the Blazers' seventh consecutive road victory, the longest streak in 20 years, dating to the spring of 1991, when the likes of Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey, Buck Williams and Kevin Duckworth won a team-record nine consecutive road games as part of a franchise-best 63-win season.

But each time the Blazers responded. LaMarcus Aldridge played the role of go-to player to perfection, finishing with 26 points, and Roy and Wesley Matthews hit dagger three-pointers -- Roy with 3:26 left and Matthews with 1:34 left -- that gave the Blazers a 103-94 lead.

"I think this is a game people thought (Miami) would get," Roy said. "But coming in, we wanted to make a statement, not to anybody but ourselves, that this was a big game for us."

Consider the statement delivered.

Note: The Denver Nuggets have signed coach George Karl to a three-year extension.